Police officer injured in Malawi student protest

(AP) Stone-wielding students have injured a police officer in clashes at the University of Malawi at Blantyre in protests supporting lecturers demanding a 113 percent salary raise.

Students are angry that classes stopped nearly a month ago.

Malawi's government has faced wildcat strikes by public workers since it floated the kwacha in May and it lost half its value.

Last week the government awarded 25 percent salary increases to workers at the state water board after they turned off the city's water supply. When power utility workers threatened blackouts, they also got an increase.

On Monday police fired tear gas to disperse students blocking a major highway. Spokesman Nicholas Gondwa said an assistant commissioner tried to reason with the students who pelted him with stones, slashing his face.